As one of three contact points with your bike—and the one that is responsible for transferring watts from your legs to the drivetrain—your shoes have a huge impact on the quality of every ride. There’s a reason #NewShoeWatts is a thing. A new, properly fitting pair of kicks won’t just make you feel faster, there’s a chance they might even make you ride faster.

Types of Shoes

There’s a shoe for every riding niche, but this roundup will focus on road and mountain shoes. Of the two, mountain shoes are more versatile thanks to rubber soles with grippy lugs that make them easier to ride in. In fact, mountain shoes are good for pretty much everything. But road shoes are usually lighter and offer mounting points for larger, three-bolt road cleats.

A mountain cleat (left) as found on the Five Ten Maltese Falcon and a road cleat (right) from the Louis Garneau La84. Both shown after many miles of testing.

Staff

RoadRoad-shoe soles are typically stiff (for maximizing pedaling efficiency) and smooth (no tread equals lighter weight). Many road shoes—mostly higher-end models—utilize a triangular, three-bolt cleat-mounting pattern that is compatible with the most common road-pedal systems—Look, imitation Look, and Shimano. Some road shoes offer a four-bolt sole compatible with Speedplay pedals. Low- to midrange road shoes often have a two-bolt pattern, in addition to a three-bolt pattern, to also accommodate mountain bike–style cleats. This allows the rider to use dual-sided pedals (easier to step into) as well as pedals that have a platform on one side (for shorter rides in regular shoes) and a clipless mechanism on the other.

Uppers are light and made from soft and supple leather or synthetic materials that provide a comfortable and snug fit. They can have nylon mesh to keep your feet cool. A stiff, reinforced heel cup will stop your foot from slipping while pedaling. Knit uppers are also starting to become popular for their comfortable fit and ventilation (check out the Giro Empire V70 Knit below).

MountainMountain shoes come in two styles: clipless and flat. Compared with road shoes, clipless mountain shoes have grippy lugs and are built exclusively to accept two-bolt cleats. While top-end mountain shoes can have carbon soles and be every bit as stiff as a road-racing shoe, many clipless mountain bike shoes have a bit of toe flex to make hiking easier. Mountain shoes usually use heavier-duty upper materials to withstand more rugged conditions—dirt, mud, rocks, roots—and often have armoring on toes and heels to reduce the pain of rock strikes and to add durability.

Flat shoes don’t have clipless cleat mounts, and like skate shoes have a sticky rubber sole. You ride them with platform pedals, and the absence of cleats means you can get on and off easier—good for stop-and-go commuting or bailing on downhill runs. And since you’re not locked in, the feeling is freer and more surf-like. You’ll pedal differently with a flat pedal because you can’t pull up on them. Brands like 5.10 and Vibram make extra-grippy soles that better stick to pedals.

Stiffness Is Important, but It’s Not Everything

A very stiff sole will make power transfer feel more efficient, but the lack of give can cause hot spots and discomfort. Nylon is used in lower-cost shoes and has more flex, which may feel less efficient, but may be more comfortable, especially on bumpier terrain. Midrange shoes include some carbon-composite-enhanced materials, and the stiffest, high-end soles will be entirely carbon. Because carbon is so stiff, less can be used and the shoe will also be lighter. Most companies will agree that stiffness is important but only when the fit is correct.

Dial closure systems (left) are common on mid to high-end shoes. Laces (center)provide some retro style and hook and loop (right) can be found at every price point because it’s easy and quick to adjust. Some shoes will use a combination of systems including the Giro Code Techalce which has all three.

Courtesy of Scott

Choose the Right Closure

Laces: After being spotted in the professional road-racing peloton, the trend for lace-up uppers on the highest-end road shoes has grown. The retro look has its fans, plus laces are light. Laces are also found on entry-level shoes and almost all flat-pedal shoes. Laces provide a simple, effective, and easy-to-repair closure. Another benefit to a laced shoe is that it tends to be very accommodating to unique foot shapes. The only downside: They’re difficult to fine-tune midride.

Hook and Loop: Also known as “Velcro,” this style of closure is found on shoes at all prices. It’s light, easy to adjust, easy to fine-tune midride, and can be placed at multiple points to provide zonal snugness. Downside: Over time, hook and loop can loose its grip and get clogged with mud.

Dial: Boa is the king of dial closures, and you’ll find its system on mid- to high-end shoes from many companies. There are other dial-closure systems besides Boa: Atop and Northwave’s SLW2 system. Dial closures usually offer the most closing force, and are micro-adjustable, weather- and mud-resistant, secure when locked in place, and easy to adjust on the fly. They can get jammed, or damaged, rendering them unusable (though they are often repairable or replaceable).

Bontrager Tario

A fish-scale-like material over the front half of the upper, called GnarGuard, helps protect your feet on rowdier rides. It also gives you the sense that you’re wearing a light layer of armor over your feet—while remaining comfortable and supple. A higher cut protects your ankles, the sacrifice being a little less breathability. The Boa dial is secure, the toe box is pleasantly roomy, and the shoe hugs the foot well. It’s also attractive, with a relatively sleek profile for an enduro shoe.

Fizik Infinito R1

The sole vents let you feel air flowing under your feetType: Men’s Road

I want to call out my favorite thing about this shoe: The sole vents actually work. It’s one thing to claim to have sole vents—which a lot of shoes do—and another for those vents to work, which the R1’s do. I could feel air flowing in under my feet. As a profuse sweater, I was immediately smitten (though these vents might be a problem on cold and wet days). As far as the rest of the shoe is concerned, it’s pretty standard high-end shoe fare: light and really stiff. The Boa closures were more comfortable than most, and the forefoot volume adjust system lets this shoe fit a wide range of foot shapes.

Mavic Crossmax Elite

A wide heel cup and sole with a little flex make for a comfortable fitType: Men's mountain

This shoe uses two types of closure systems for an easy and secure fit: a Boa-style wire adjustor is located closest to the ankle, while two of Mavic’s Velcro straps cinch the shoe toward the toe. The portion of the shoe around the ankle is wider than many others in its category—one of our testers had to really cinch the Boa down to get a snug fit. Thanks to a carbon sole that’s stiff without being painfully so, and grippy rubber treads, the Crossmax Elite feels great when pedaling and can handle some hike-a-bike sections, too.

Specialized S-Works 7

Specialized has been making some of the stiffest and lightest road shoes for a while now. So the big story with the 7 isn’t that it’s stiff and light, it’s that Specialized has kept those qualities and made huge gains in comfort. “Slipper” isn’t the right description: Your foot snaps into this shoe like Legos connecting, and the interior is smooth and comfortable. The only comfort complaint: The shoe doesn’t vent very well. The upper walks the fine balance between support and suppleness as well as we’ve experienced, while the heel cup locks your foot solidly without causing discomfort or blistering. The replaceable, machined aluminum Boa dials are the kind of touch a $400 shoe deserves.

Specialized Defroster Trail

Specialized’s Defroster winter trail shoe is built to keep your feet warm and dry, so you can get out sooner after (or even during) the storm. The shoe is fully waterproof thanks to features like sealed seams, a Velcro flap that covers the tongue and Boa closure system, and tall, Neoprene cuffs that help keep snow out in hike-a-bike situations. Optimized for temperatures between 18 degrees to 30 degrees Fahrenheit, these winter cycling boots are a good pick for fat bikers, or trail riders and commuters who often get out in snow, rain, and mud. At $200, the Defrosters are about in line with other winter cycling shoes, but have a burlier, more weatherproof construction than some options.

5.10 Freerider Pro

The right amount of stiffness and super-sticky solesType: Men’s mountain

Ever noticed all those people riding flat pedals—the ones in bike parks, downhill races, even on your local trails? These shoes (and earlier versions of them) helped make that happen. Though 5.10 didn’t invent bike shoes for riding with flat pedals, with this shoe it pretty much perfected the category. The Freerider Pro is light and comfortable, has the right amount of stiffness (good for riding, okay for walking), and sticks to your pedals as if the sole were made of glue. The latest version is well ventilated, dries quickly, and has extra protection on the toe as well as some modest protection around the heel. Bonus: It looks almost like a street shoe, so your significant other won’t cringe when you wear yours to dinner. And at $150, they’re pretty reasonably priced.

Bontrager Sonic

A Boa L6 system lets you dial in fit, and a roomy toe box lets you wiggle your toesType: Women’s Road

Snugging down the Velcro strap across the top and twisting the Boa L6 dial on the Sonic women’s road shoe—tiny turns at a time until ideal snugness is achieved around the midfoot—is not unlike the oddly satisfying feeling of having your blood pressure taken (there’s just something about that cuff slowly conforming to your arm). Up front, the inForm Race last leaves plenty of room for toes to wiggle without feeling squeezed, and the PowerTruss sole is said to be about halfway between stiff and comfortable. The Sonic is two- and three-bolt cleat compatible and available in eight sizes. As for your blood pressure, a ride in these perforated, purple beauties will no doubt keep your numbers in check.

Lake MX237 Endurance

A well-protected shoe that’s great for hard ridesStyle: Men's mountainRead Full Review

Lake’s MX237 Endurance is a versatile shoe that excels almost everywhere. The incredibly tough, durable, real leather upper offers excellent protection from rock strikes and the elements while the stiff carbon sole is ideal for riders who like to ride fast. The mid-volume last helps maximize power transfer and still provides excellent on and off the bike comfort. When you’re off the bike, the shoe’s grippy rubber lugs on the sole do a great job of providing traction. And even through the shoes have an inflexible sole, the rider’s heel remains firmly in place thanks to the cat’s tongue texture on the sockliner. You can adjust the dual Boa closure dials quickly in either direction to make sure you have your ideal fit across the entire foot.

Shimano AM-7

This new shoe from Shimano is made for downhill and enduro racing, but it’s stiff enough that it works well for XC-style rides, too—if you can tolerate a little extra weight to gain comfort and grippiness when walking or hiking on trails. A neoprene ankle cuff—though it looks kinda weird—helps keep dirt and rocks from infiltrating your shoe. The extra-large mesh vents on the side help keep your feet cool, and there’s solid protection around your heel and the front and top of your toes. A high strap helps keep your foot locked down and can keep your laces from flapping in the breeze.

Louis Garneau Course Air Lite II

The Course Air Lite II shoes offer weight, features, and performance comparable with the highest-end road shoes, but cost a bit less. They’re not exactly a value, but they’re at least a better deal. The shoe is pretty standard fare for high-end road shoes these days: two Boa dials, thin and stiff carbon sole, insoles with adjustable arch support, and a slotted cleat mount for more fore/aft positioning range—though we do wish the heel retention was a bit better. The LG’s standout feature is a window on the outside of the shoe that’s covered with a flexible material, which allows the shoe to accommodate B to D+ feet. Take note: These shoes fit slightly large.

Giro Code Techlace

Laces, Velcro, and a Boa dial combine for a great fit and easy adjustmentType: Men’s mountain

With the Empire and some other models, Giro went all in on laces. There’s a lot of appeal: low weight, retro style, and a near-custom fit without hot spots. And they’re easy to replace or swap out for more colorful options. But laces can be harder than Velcro-style or Boa cords to adjust on the fly. With the Techlace system, Giro is hedging its bets. You get a lot of the benefits, but by attaching the laces to Velcro straps and adding a Boa closure, Giro makes it easier to adjust midride. On these Codes, the Boa dial offers 1mm of adjustment to fine-tune pressure. The shoe weight remains low, and stiffness high, so you can race in them, but there’s enough traction and comfort for big adventures and casual trail rides. The upper is soft and comfortable, but repeated brushes with rocks can shred it, so consider where and how you’ll ride them. The shoes run narrow and tight, so it’s best to go up a half size (at least) from what you normally wear.

Specialized Torch 2.0

A comfortable fit and medium-stiff sole with a rubber heel ideal for riding and walkingType: Men’s roadPrice: $220

Comfort was the first word that came to mind when one of our testers slipped into the Torch 2.0 for the first time. Padding around the heel is soft and holds the foot in position when riding, plus there’s plenty of room for your toes. The sole feels stiff but still has some flex, and the rubber heel doesn’t slip when walking. The Boa dial creates a snug and supple feel around the foot. The mesh construction used for the upper is comfortable and cool even on some hotter days. The wire closure wraps around hooks and can come off when you loosen the fit, so make sure to lace them correctly before you put them on again.

Giro Empire VR70 Knit

With a reinforced knit upper and laces, the Empire VR70 Knit conforms to feet of any shape better than most shoes. Heel retention isn’t great, but the shoe is fantastically comfortable: It’s like wearing a sock with a carbon sole. Though we expected crazy-airy ventilation, it instead breathed much like a normal shoe—and we were glad to see the knit upper largely seems to resist absorbing water and sweat. The ankle cuff keeps out rocks and sand, and the TPU skeleton protects the knitting against abrasion: So far they’ve survived a few scrapes and crashes with little damage.

Specialized S-Works Recon

The magic of the Recon is largely in the materials. At the bottom, where your foot meets the pedal, Specialized uses its stiffest, lightest FACT carbon footplate. The insanely light and strong upper is made of Dyneema Mesh, a super strong materials that’s light enough to float on water. The shoes have a nice roomy toe box and incorporate Specialized’s Body Geometry design, which the company claims reduces injury risk, improves efficiency, and, of course, boosts power. At $425, the Recons are not cheap. At all. However, they’re extremely durable, and should last last several seasons of seriously hard wear.

Five Ten Maltese Falcon

A combination of flat shoe feel and clipless performanceStyle: Men's mountainRead Full Review

The Maltese Falcon uses a Stealth S1 rubber compound sole that is stiff enough for riding yet flexible enough for walking on rocky trails. But this flat-pedal shoe also comes with an SPD cleat, giving you the option to clip in while still retaining a casual, relaxed look. A lace-up closure gives it a skate-style look, and a Velcro strap helps with mid-ride adjustability. Sitting between the company’s heavier and more downhill-oriented Hellcat and its stiffer-soled, more race-oriented Kestrel, the Maltese Falcon is an all-around, comfortable mountain bike shoe. Soft padding throughout keeps your feet from getting too hot during the summer months but also keeps them warm all winter.

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